Due to the play rookie catcher Josmil Pinto (pictured above, right), it is now a legit question of should Mauer be moved to first base. Either way, thanks to Pinto now in the mix that opens up a few other prospects to be moved for pitching help at the major league level allowing the Twins to be one of the busiest teams this offseason.
It is safe to say if the Twins want to start contending next year they need to add multiple above average starting pitchers this winter and they have the money and prospects to do so. Let's face it, we are not going to win with pitchers like Deduno, Albers, Correia, and Pelfrey leading this rotation. If the Twins can add 3 starting pitchers that should put them in a good spot to contend next season.
If you can add 3 legit starting pitchers, they can then force the young pitching they have to force their way into the rotation instead of being forced due to how bad the rotation is. It is safe to say Gibson wasn't ready, but because of the horrible rotation and fan out cry for him they brought him up and he got shelled. By adding 3 legit starters and having Correia as your number 4 that opens up 1 spot and forces everyone to take their game to another level if they want that spot. This also allows the Gibson, Meyer, and Mays of the world play their way into the rotation. It is better to have too many pitchers, then too few as we have found out over the past 3 seasons.
At least one of the three starters would have to be via free agency and the top on their board should be Ervin Santana of the Royals. He has had a career somewhat similar to Liriano and seems to have figured things out and is a legit top of the rotation guy. The second could be via free agency or trade with the third most likely being through trade since I doubt the Twins would open up the checkbooks to 3 brand new pitchers. A couple of other free agents they could target could be Jimenez from the Indians, Johnson from the Blue Jays, and Hughes from the Yankees.
The Twins over the past two years have added a ton of prospects giving them one of the better farm systems in the league and the depth at a couple of positions should allow them to move some prospects to add good pitching this offseason. If the Twins do decide to move Mauer to first base, two very good first base prospects would be available to move thanks to Mauer being locked up until 2018.
The two first base prospects are DJ Hicks and Kennys Vargas. Hicks played at both Low and High A ball this season and hit 17 home runs with 110 RBI between the two levels. He had a slashline of .289/.358/.468 with an OPS of .826. He from I've heard is a very solid defensive first basemen as well. Vargas not as good a defender has been given the nickname of Little Papi thanks to his resemblance to David Ortiz and with his play being very similar as well. Vargas played his whole season at High A and hit 19 home runs with 93 RBI. His slashline of .267/.344/.468 with an OPS of .813 was also just as impressive of Hicks. If Mauer is moved to first both Vargas and Hicks could become valuable trade pieces for the Twins.
Now when it comes to second base the Twins have an option that could be moved at every level through the minor leagues and majors. First, they could look at moving Dozier. I highly doubt they would do this, but his emergence could net them some decent pitching prospects in return. They could probably get more for super prospect Eddie Rosario. Rosario will more than likely be ready at some point next season so they have to decide who's the future between Dozier and Rosario. Rosario mashed over .300 and slugged .460 at the second base position between High A and Double A this season and would bring a very good pitcher in return. Polanco also hit over .300 and slugged over .450 at Low A, but is a much better defender then Rosario and is right behind him and shouldn't get to the majors too long after him. Polanco could be a very nice piece to net a very good pitcher. You also have the combo at High A of Michael and Mejia. Michael slick with the glove and is an on base machine. Mejia good with the glove also and hit over .300 as well. Twins can't also forget about James Beresford at Triple A who hit over .300 and played good defense as well. In other words, Twins are stacked at second base.
The next position of depth is the outfield. Twins have outfielders having success on every level. Since Buxton and Arcia both seem to be locked in as long term answers out there that leaves 3 very high upside prospects to take that other outfield spot and allows the other 2 to become movable. The first prospect Twins fans got a firsthand look at this season in Aaron Hicks. Now, he hasn't shown much yet, but still has a huge upside. He can play great defense, hit for power, and steal bases. He has all 5 tools it's just a matter of if he can harness them at the major league level. He may not be a main piece of a deal, but definitively a solid piece to help sweeten a deal. Next is super slugger Adam Brett Walker. Walker hit 27 home runs and drove in 109 RBI while slugging a huge .526 at Low A. He has raw power and could become a huge slugger if he continues to progress and could definitively be wanted by teams looking to add young high ceiling bats. Last is Max Kepler who we signed out of Germany in 2009. He like Hicks, has all 5 tools and just needs to learn to harness those tools. He has the potential to be a middle of the order bat hitting for both a high average and lots of power while playing great defense in a corner outfield spot.
All in all, the Twins have the resources to add very good starting pitching while not giving up too much of their farm system. Now the only question is will they actually make the moves needed to contend in 2014? Or will they just settle for having a healthy Vance Worley and bringing back Mike Pelfrey as answers to the rotation? If so, 2014 will be just as bad if not worse than 2011 through 2013.
Written by Nick Calo, follow me on Twitter for more updates and sports thoughts @PRH1987
It is safe to say if the Twins want to start contending next year they need to add multiple above average starting pitchers this winter and they have the money and prospects to do so. Let's face it, we are not going to win with pitchers like Deduno, Albers, Correia, and Pelfrey leading this rotation. If the Twins can add 3 starting pitchers that should put them in a good spot to contend next season.
If you can add 3 legit starting pitchers, they can then force the young pitching they have to force their way into the rotation instead of being forced due to how bad the rotation is. It is safe to say Gibson wasn't ready, but because of the horrible rotation and fan out cry for him they brought him up and he got shelled. By adding 3 legit starters and having Correia as your number 4 that opens up 1 spot and forces everyone to take their game to another level if they want that spot. This also allows the Gibson, Meyer, and Mays of the world play their way into the rotation. It is better to have too many pitchers, then too few as we have found out over the past 3 seasons.
At least one of the three starters would have to be via free agency and the top on their board should be Ervin Santana of the Royals. He has had a career somewhat similar to Liriano and seems to have figured things out and is a legit top of the rotation guy. The second could be via free agency or trade with the third most likely being through trade since I doubt the Twins would open up the checkbooks to 3 brand new pitchers. A couple of other free agents they could target could be Jimenez from the Indians, Johnson from the Blue Jays, and Hughes from the Yankees.
The Twins over the past two years have added a ton of prospects giving them one of the better farm systems in the league and the depth at a couple of positions should allow them to move some prospects to add good pitching this offseason. If the Twins do decide to move Mauer to first base, two very good first base prospects would be available to move thanks to Mauer being locked up until 2018.
The two first base prospects are DJ Hicks and Kennys Vargas. Hicks played at both Low and High A ball this season and hit 17 home runs with 110 RBI between the two levels. He had a slashline of .289/.358/.468 with an OPS of .826. He from I've heard is a very solid defensive first basemen as well. Vargas not as good a defender has been given the nickname of Little Papi thanks to his resemblance to David Ortiz and with his play being very similar as well. Vargas played his whole season at High A and hit 19 home runs with 93 RBI. His slashline of .267/.344/.468 with an OPS of .813 was also just as impressive of Hicks. If Mauer is moved to first both Vargas and Hicks could become valuable trade pieces for the Twins.
Now when it comes to second base the Twins have an option that could be moved at every level through the minor leagues and majors. First, they could look at moving Dozier. I highly doubt they would do this, but his emergence could net them some decent pitching prospects in return. They could probably get more for super prospect Eddie Rosario. Rosario will more than likely be ready at some point next season so they have to decide who's the future between Dozier and Rosario. Rosario mashed over .300 and slugged .460 at the second base position between High A and Double A this season and would bring a very good pitcher in return. Polanco also hit over .300 and slugged over .450 at Low A, but is a much better defender then Rosario and is right behind him and shouldn't get to the majors too long after him. Polanco could be a very nice piece to net a very good pitcher. You also have the combo at High A of Michael and Mejia. Michael slick with the glove and is an on base machine. Mejia good with the glove also and hit over .300 as well. Twins can't also forget about James Beresford at Triple A who hit over .300 and played good defense as well. In other words, Twins are stacked at second base.
The next position of depth is the outfield. Twins have outfielders having success on every level. Since Buxton and Arcia both seem to be locked in as long term answers out there that leaves 3 very high upside prospects to take that other outfield spot and allows the other 2 to become movable. The first prospect Twins fans got a firsthand look at this season in Aaron Hicks. Now, he hasn't shown much yet, but still has a huge upside. He can play great defense, hit for power, and steal bases. He has all 5 tools it's just a matter of if he can harness them at the major league level. He may not be a main piece of a deal, but definitively a solid piece to help sweeten a deal. Next is super slugger Adam Brett Walker. Walker hit 27 home runs and drove in 109 RBI while slugging a huge .526 at Low A. He has raw power and could become a huge slugger if he continues to progress and could definitively be wanted by teams looking to add young high ceiling bats. Last is Max Kepler who we signed out of Germany in 2009. He like Hicks, has all 5 tools and just needs to learn to harness those tools. He has the potential to be a middle of the order bat hitting for both a high average and lots of power while playing great defense in a corner outfield spot.
All in all, the Twins have the resources to add very good starting pitching while not giving up too much of their farm system. Now the only question is will they actually make the moves needed to contend in 2014? Or will they just settle for having a healthy Vance Worley and bringing back Mike Pelfrey as answers to the rotation? If so, 2014 will be just as bad if not worse than 2011 through 2013.
Written by Nick Calo, follow me on Twitter for more updates and sports thoughts @PRH1987